Microbeads have been under heavy scrutiny for years, but especially in recent months. A study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology in September 2015 estimates that a staggering eight trillion microbeads pass through sewage systems and are deposited into US aquatic habitats every single day.

"Microbeads, those tiny plastic particles that have recently been added to cosmetic products to add 'abrasion and exfoliation,' are finding their way into our lakes, rivers, streams and the ocean," Wildlife Conservation Society's executive vice president of public affairs John Calvelli said in a statement of support of the ban on Wednesday. "Because they are too tiny for sewage treatment plants, they are not filtered out of the effluent that runs into our waterways."

5 GyresNew York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman's office released a report in April 2015 demonstrating that 74% of water samples from 34 municipal and private treatment plants in New York state contained microbeads.

When these beads run into our lakes, rivers, streams, and seas, they can cause incredible environmental damage. The synthetic polymers that the beads are made of aren't easily broken down and can survive in these environments for years. Toxic chemicals such as PCBs, pesticides, and motor oil also tend to adhere to the tiny plastic balls, making them dangerous.

The beads also tend to float rather than sink to the bottom. They then become easy snacks for sea creatures, which can mistake them for tasty fish eggs. But food they are not.

Thousands of aquatic creatures— from large fish to tiny plankton — eat these harmful beads potentially covered in toxins. The toxins can accumulate in their bodies, which eventually may end up on our dinner table.

To make matters worse, there's little evidence that plastic microbeads effectively exfoliate your skin in the first place. In an interview with Huffington Post, New York-based dermatologist Debra Jaliman says that the plastic pellets in most face and body washes are "inert," meaning that they don't chemically react with your skin. They're also smooth around the edges and not large enough to penetrate the skin, Jaliman said.

Natural alternatives, such as exfoliating products made with salt, sugar, or from nut and fruit byproducts, will not only exfoliate your skin better because the pellets are rougher around the edges, but they aren't dangerous to the environment because they degrade naturally. Check out this handy list of products that don't contain plastic microbeads to help you out.

And here's a list of the products that do contain plastic microbeads and will potentially be banned with the passing of the new law. Is your face wash on there?